Futuristic Substance Expected To Cut Wound-closing Time

October 16, 1986|United Press International

WASHINGTON -- Scientists are testing a futuristic substance that drastically reduces the time it takes wounds and burns to heal and could save millions of dollars a year in hospital costs, a researcher says.

The substance, a genetically engineered version of a hormone called epithelial growth factor, or EGF, is one of many produced by the body to stimulate cell reproduction.

The hormones, when applied to eye wounds induced in laboratory animals, cut healing time by as much as half, said Dr. Richard Eiferman, director of the Corneal External Disease Service in the Department of Opthalmology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Kentucky.

Scientists have begun testing the substance in human patients in the last 10 days at selected medical centers around the country, Eiferman said. He declined to provide further details.

``There are approximately 22 million surgical procedures performed every year in the United States and virtually all involve wound closure,`` Eiferman said. ``If we could shorten hospital stays for one day for everyone, it is estimated we could save millions of dollars.``

EGF could be especially useful for eye operations. Currently, stitches from corneal transplant operations must remain in place for six months to a year, and cataract surgery patients must wait three weeks or more before they can see normally.

At a seminar, sponsored by a group called Research to Prevent Blindness, Eiferman said the substance appears to have no dangerous side effects, but testing so far has been limited and preliminary so such problems may appear later on.

Although certain growth factors are known to stimulate the abnormal cell growth characteristic of cancer, the researcher said the substance has so far produced no such effect, nor has it caused cells to mutate.

EGF can be used to stimulate the growth of skin samples from a burned patient into large grafts that can be transplanted back onto damaged areas, Eiferman said.

Since the skin is donated by the patient, there are no rejection problems, he said, as there can be with skin from cadavers or pigs that is usually used in such cases.

Cadaver skin, however, can also be grown with EGF.

This kind of skin lacks the substances, or antigens, that would trigger attack by the patient`s immune system and may also be used without rejection, Eiferman said.

The researcher said his team has also isolated another substance from the human umbilical cord that stimulates cells of the cornea. The scientists are not sure what the substance is, but have named it ``XGF.``